Resurrection andRenewal 341
if so, was the practice common? One fourteenth-century pamphlet bound
into a miscellany that once belonged to the Bolognese pope Benedict XIV
suggests that, at least occasionally, godparents used such aids.^209 The pam-
phlet, entitledCatacumina,was composed by a godfather for future use by his
godson. The man had a little theological training; perhaps he was a lawyer.
The work consists of a treatise in the vernacular on the Nicene Creed, that
sung at Mass. He introduces his work in this way: ‘‘It is written in theDecre-
tum,De Cons. D. 4 c. 105 , that the godparent, that is, he who receives an-
other at baptism, is bound to explain the faith to the one baptized. And since
you, my son, were not baptized by people who are going to teach you much,
and I perhaps will not be around at the time when you are ready, you may
confirm yourself in the faith into which you were baptized by reading this
‘Catacumina,’ that is, explanation of the faith.’’^210 This godparent was not
only mindful of his duties, he was well informed. He quoted suitable scrip-
tural authorities for his propositions and elaborated his points by citing Gra-
tian, Thomas Aquinas, and Augustine. For example, of the Creed article
‘‘and in one holy catholic and apostolic Church’’ he writes: ‘‘The Catholic
Church is the whole of all faithful Christians. Holy Scripture says that the
apostles and disciples and those who believed in Christ were of one heart,
one soul, and one will.’’^211 The quotation from Acts 5 : 32 may not be letter
perfect, but the author’s point was clear. Were there many other careful and
learned lay catechists? Perhaps not in the early 1200 s. But they certainly
became more common as the communal period drew to its close and literacy
spread.
- Bologna, Biblioteca Universitaria,ms 158(xivcent.), fols. 47 v– 50 v.
- Ibid., fol. 47 v: ‘‘Scrivesi nel Decreto de Consecratione, distinctione quarta, capitoloVos ante omnia
et cetera, che el santolo cioe colui che tene altri a baptismo e tenuto a mostare al baptismato la fede. Et
perche tu figliuolo no se baptizato da persone intendenti che ti sapesseno de rozare e forse io non siro al
tempo che tu asai intendimento perfetto. Acio che tu legendo ti confirmi in fede, ne la quale tu se batizato
leggi questa Catacumina, cioe digrossatione de fede.’’ - Ibid., fol. 50 v: ‘‘La catholica chiesa e la universita dei fedeli cristiani. Dice la sancta scriptura che
degli apostoli discipuli e da quelli che in Cristo credero era una core e una anima e uno desiderio.’’